Clinton is the county seat of Clinton County and home to 26,885 people, with 49,015 in the micropolitan area. Located 41 miles north of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River, Clinton is an industrial city that has its roots steeped in the timber industry from the forests that used occupy the adjacent river bluffs and was once known as the "Sawmill City." First platted as the town of New York, Iowa, the name was changed to Clinton when the Iowa Land Company purchased the settlement in the 1840's. The historic river city grew along with the fledgling steamboat industry in the mid-to-late 1800's as many new industries were incorporated. Clinton was always a relatively cultured city, with many wealthy proprietors building huge mansions on the river bluffs. The culture spread and Clinton still remains home to a dinner showboat, the Gateway Contemporary Ballet and Clinton Symphony Orchestra. Today Clinton remains a historic city with industry varying from agribusiness, food processing, plastics manufacturing and paper manufacturing. The Mississippi River still plays an important role in Clinton, hosting a riverboat, a steamboat festival and a major riverfront redevelopment project. An interesting factoid about Clinton is that it is the only U.S. community that has been home to three NASA astronauts.